Chapter 15 #2
“I hope he has,” Missy retorts, trying to come back with a sultry innuendo, but it’s like an amateur trying to fence with an Olympic medalist.
“Actually, I was just telling Kaede what a compliment it is that Mr. Sanders saw enough potential in their proposal to send in a secret shopper. It’s so nice of you to help your father that way. It must be gratifying that no one ever suspected.”
Holy Shit. How does Courtney make something that should be a compliment sound so dismissive, as though Missy is nothing more than an empty-headed socialite who shops for a living?
“I do what I can. You know what it’s like to assist your father, right?” Missy tries to counter, showing her hand that she’s done some research on Courtney now that her name’s been dropped. But her research didn’t fill her in enough because she’s fighting nuclear bombs with cat-fight scratches.
“I did. I learned so much from him. I’m still learning . . . as a VP for Andrews. But you already knew that.”
Called out. I feel like an idiot standing here watching them, head bopping back and forth like I’m watching a good tennis match, but I’m staying out of this. Courtney sure doesn’t need my help, and I have zero interest in helping Missy.
Knowing she’s lost that angle, Missy tries another.
“Hope there’s no hard feelings about my friendship with Kaede.
I simply didn’t know you even existed.” Missy makes it sound as though we’re having sex on the down low every time Courtney turns her back, which would worry me with any other woman but Courtney because she has nothing to be jealous of.
She’s Cristal while Missy is warm, flat Pabst, and they both know it.
For the first time, Courtney lays a hand on my arm, right where Missy was tracing earlier, and this time, the touch sends a thrill through me. “Well, we are rather private people and do like to be discreet.”
“So discreet you don’t even wear a ring?” Missy counters, looking cocky that she just landed a shot.
Courtney smiles at me, snuggling into my side like that’s where she’s always belonged. She holds up her empty finger, meeting Missy’s cockiness with her own swagger. “I wouldn’t dishonor the beautiful ring Kaede got me by marking it up lifting weights. I don’t need to show off what I’ve got.”
Quick as a blink, Courtney looks Missy up and down pointedly, her brow rising ever so slightly in disapproval. And that’s at Missy’s new and improved look. Even Missy has to finally blush, knowing what sort of outfits she’s worn before.
And with that reddening, the whole thing’s finished. I can almost hear the referee in my mind waving it off. It’s all over. Winner by knock out, Courtney fucking Andrews!
“Well, I do hope to see it soon,” Missy says with a put-upon pout. “Daddy wants to invite you all for dinner. You two, and Ross and his wife, too, of course. Very casual, sort of a get to know everyone dinner since we’ll all be working so closely together.”
I glance at Courtney, lifting an eyebrow.
This is it, the moment. Once we do this, there’s no going back.
I mean, there’s already no going back, but she could still bail and leave me looking dumped but still spinnable.
After all, only our friends know, and they wouldn’t blame her for not going along with this crazy scheme.
Instead, Court lays her head on my shoulder, smiling warmly. “I’d love that. After all, we’re all One Life Gym family now.”
Missy smiles, but the light doesn’t touch her eyes. It’s just a reaction of the jaw muscles to display a set of capped, whitened teeth. “Great, next Saturday at seven?”
“Sounds great. If you don’t mind, though, I need to pull Kaede aside before I do my workout. Good luck with yours.”
It’s a final twist of the knife, considering that Missy’s doesn’t have a whisper of a sweat broken out but has probably been here for a while.
I’m in awe of Courtney and her command of the English language. Everything she says is double-edged, with a surface politeness that borders on dismissive and an undercurrent of I will kill you, bitch, and no one will ever find the body.
And that last bit? I’m bordering on popping wood at the idea of me and Courtney having a good, long workout in private.
As we walk across the gym, leaving Missy behind, I can feel Court’s hand in mine, and it feels natural, like her hand belongs in mine and I never realized it until now. As we head toward the studio, well out of earshot, Court’s already whispering to me.
“You got the ring?”
“Yep. Was looking for a time to give it to you.”
Courtney nods. “We need to get together again. Make sure we’ve got our data down. This is going to be the most important dinner of your life, Kaede, and we need to be ready.”
It makes me smile that she said we, not me. “I’ll clear my schedule every night so we can get together as much as possible. Can you do that?”
Court pulls her phone out of her bag, and I see she’s got her calendar app open. “Done.”
It means something to me, the fact that she’s all mine every night. I have to remind myself it’s fake. I have to remind myself that she’s Ross’s little sister, but all I really feel is excited.
We stop at the door and Courtney turns to me. “Okay, let me get my rump shaking on. Meet you after for smoothies?”
“Looking forward to it, honey.”
I love the way that sounds.